Athletic pants

ABSTRACT

An article of clothing having an outer layer, an inner layer connected to the outer layer and a cushioning insert. The inner layer is connected to the outer layer by at least two side seams. The cushioning insert is fixedly secured and is sandwiched within a predetermined area between the inner layer and the outer layer such that the cushioning insert is located between the two side seams without contacting them.

BACKGROUND

The invention generally relates to the field of athletic legwear.

A person's knee marks the meeting place of three bones: the shinbone(tibia), the thighbone (femur), and the kneecap (patella). Twocrescent-shaped pads of cartilage, each called a meniscus, sit betweenthe shinbone and the thighbone and act as cushions between the bones andshock absorbers during movement. Two sets of ligaments—the cruciates andthe collaterals—strap all three bones in place. The cruciates crisscrossbelow the kneecap; the collaterals run alongside the outside of thekneecap. The leg's substantial muscles help these ligaments keep thebones properly aligned.

During physical exercises, for example, yoga, a substantial pressure maybe applied to the kneecap and shin areas. It would be desirable toprotect the kneecap and shin areas during exercises or other routineactivities when damaging pressure may be applied to the knee and shinarea.

U.S. Pat..No. 7,194,770 discloses work pants with built-in knee pads.The work pants include a leg member extending to above a knee and a kneesection having a cushioning material housed therein. The knee section issecured to a worker's leg by a plurality of straps which may bereleasably attached to the worker's shoes.

Further, U.S. Pat. No. 7,089,598 discloses infant pants having kneepockets and replaceable knee pads. The knee pads are permanently orremovably mounted to an inner surface of the pants or to an infant pantsinner liner. Either the pants or the liner has an internal pocket tosecure a replaceable protective pad within the pocket.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,408 discloses pants for use when performingwork in which sitting and kneeling take place frequently, as in roofingwork. The pants include padding in the seat and knee areas.

SUMMARY

In one general aspect of the invention, an article of clothing isprovided. The article of clothing has an outer layer, an inner layerconnected to the outer layer and a cushioning insert. The inner layer isconnected to the outer layer by at least two side seams. The cushioninginsert is fixedly secured and is sandwiched within a predetermined areabetween the inner layer and the outer layer such that the cushioninginsert is located between the two side seams without contacting them.

In another general aspect of the invention, athletic pants are provided.The pants have an outer layer, an inner layer having an area smallerthan the area of the outer layer, and a cushioning insert. The innerlayer is connected to the outer layer at two side seams. The cushioninginsert is secured to a predetermined area between the inner layer andthe outer layer such that the cushioning insert is sandwiched betweenthe inner layer and the outer layer and is located between the two sideseams without contacting them.

The above aspects, advantages and features are of representativeembodiments only. It should be understood that they are not to beconsidered limitations on the invention as defined by the claims.Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparentin the following description, from the drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation andthe figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references denotelike or corresponding parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the athleticpants;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the preferred embodiment of the athletic pants;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the athletic pants;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cushioning section of theathletic pants;

FIGS. 5 a-5 b are a front and side view, respectively, of an alternativeembodiment of the athletic pants;

FIGS. 6 a-6 b are front views of a childwear having cushioning inserts;and

FIG. 7 is a front view of a shirt having cushioning inserts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND THE DRAWINGS

As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of knee and shin protecting athletic pants 10is provided in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. Each pair of pants preferably has leg portions 12, eachhaving an outer layer 14, an inner layer 16 and two side seams 18. Theinner layer 16 is preferably smaller than the outer layer 14 and issecured to the outer layer at the two side seams 18. Alternatively, theinner layer 16 may be secured to the outer layer by an adhesive or by ahook and loop fastener.

Pants 10 further include a cushioning insert 20 positioned within apredetermined area 56 of the pants. In the preferred embodiment, thispredetermined area is the knee and shin area of the pants. Thecushioning insert 20 is preferably secured within the predetermined area56 such that the cushioning insert 20 is sandwiched between the innerand outer layers and is located between the two side seams 18 withoutcontacting either of the seams. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4,the cushioning insert 20 is fixedly attached to the inner and outerlayers by additional seams surrounding the cushioning insert.Alternatively, the cushioning insert can be removable from andre-attachable to the predetermined area 56 of the athletic pants. Insuch alternative embodiment, the cushioning insert 20 can be removablyattached to the inner side or the outer side of the outer layer 14 withan adhesive, a hook and loop fastener or a snap-on fastener. Any othermeans of removable attachment may also be utilized. the fastener mayalso be adjustable to allow the cushioning insert to move to be properlypositioned on the wearer's knee and shin.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment, cushioning insert 20 ismade of a foam material or a gel or gel-like material to provideadequate protection and cushioning for the wearer. Other suitablematerials may also be utilized.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, cushioning insert 20 is positioned inthe knee and shin area of the pants 10 such that the insert covers atleast the knee cap and adjacent area of the wearer's tibia. Toaccomplish this protection, the gel insert may be trapezoid,rectangular, triangular or semi-circular in shape. Other shapes may alsobe utilized. To allow for more freedom of movement, as well as foraesthetic purposes, it is preferred that the cushioning insert 20 is notattached to the outer layer 14 so that neither the cushioning insert 20nor its attachment seams are visible from outside when the wearer wearspants 10.

It should be understood by a person skilled in the art that, althoughthe present application describes the cushioning insert as beingpositioned between the two layers of fabric, it may simply be positioneddirectly on the wearer's knee and shin.

As shown in FIGS. 5 a- 5 b, in addition to protecting the knee and shinareas of the pants wearer, pants 10′ may be provided with furthercushioning inserts 24-28 to protect the wearer's side leg areas(cushioning inserts 24), pelvic bone area (cushioning insert 26) andseat area (cushioning inserts 28).

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 a-6 b, cushioning inserts may be applied tochildren clothing. For example, a pair of infant overalls 30 may beprovided with knee and shin cushioning inserts 32 and seat cushioninginserts 34. Each leg portion 36 of the overalls 30 preferably includesan inner layer 38, an outer layer 40 and a pair of side seams 42. Asshown in FIG. 6 a, cushioning inserts 32, 34 may be fixedly secured tothe inner layer 38 and side seams 42 such that the cushioning insertsare immovably sandwiched between the inner and outer layers. Anadditional thermal or cushioning layer 44 may be provided between theinner layer 38 with the cushioning inserts and the outer layer 40.Although, the drawings illustrate application of the cushioning insertsto children's overalls, a person skilled in the art would understandthat the inserts may be applied to any other type of children clothing,for example, pants, shirts, creepers, etc. Further, it should beunderstood that the cushioning inserts may also be applied to otherareas of children clothing, e.g., elbows and forearms.

Moreover, in an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 6 b, the cushioninginsert 46 shaped as a decorative element may be fixedly attached to theoutside of the outer layer 40.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 7, cushioning inserts 48 may be applied to ashirt 50. Specifically, shirt 50 may'include an inner layer 52 and anouter layer 54. Each cushioning insert 48 is preferably fixedly securedto the inner layer 52 in the rib cage area such that the cushioninginsert is immovably sandwiched between the inner layer and the outerlayer. Cushioning insert 48 is preferably not attached to the outerlayer 54 so that neither the cushioning insert nor its attachment seamsare visible from outside of the shirt.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamentalnovel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodimentsthereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutionsand changes in the form and details of the devices and methodsillustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in theart without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, itis expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/ormethod steps which perform substantially the same function insubstantially the same way to achieve the same results are within thescope of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limitedonly as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

1. An article of clothing comprising: an, outer layer; an inner layerconnected to the outer layer at two side seams; and a cushioning insertfixedly secured to a predetermined area between the inner layer and theouter layer such that the cushioning insert is sandwiched between theinner layer and the outer layer and is located between the two sideseams without contacting them.
 2. The article of clothing according toclaim 1, wherein the article of clothing is a pair of pants.
 3. Thearticle of clothing according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined areacorresponds to a wearer's knee and shin area.
 4. The article of clothingaccording to claim 1, wherein, the cushioning insert comprises a foammaterial.
 5. The article of clothing according to claim 1, wherein thecushioning insert comprises a gel material.
 6. The article of clothingaccording to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of insert seamssecuring the cushioning insert within the predetermined area. 7.Athletic pants comprising: an outer layer; an inner layer having an areasmaller than an area of the outer layer, the inner layer being connectedto the outer layer at two side seams; and a cushioning'insert secured toa predetermined area between the inner layer and the outer layer suchthat the cushioning insert is sandwiched between the inner layer and theouter layer and is located between the two side seams without contactingthem.
 8. The athletic pants according to claim 7, wherein the cushioninginsert is removable from and reattachable to the predetermined area. 9.The athletic pants according to claim 7, further comprising a pluralityof insert seams fixedly securing the cushioning insert within thepredetermined area.
 10. The athletic pants according to claim 7, whereinthe cushioning insert comprises a gel material.
 11. The athletic pantsaccording to claim 7, wherein the cushioning insert comprises a foammaterial.
 12. The athletic pants according to claim 7, wherein thepredetermined area corresponds to a wearer's knee and shin area.